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Qing Xuanling was exhausted, aching, and in far from optimal condition. Yet she was exhilarated. She was certain she had made the right choice!
She even believed she had discovered a way to improve the original method of the Abnormal Steel Caterpillar Observation Diary!
Xuan Dan regarded Qing Xuanling's gleaming eyes with disdain. "Tsk—are you a masochist or something? Why are you so excited? You didn't even endure the fifteen minutes we agreed upon."
She and Qing Xuanling had calculated beforehand that the Demon Blood Pill's effects would last exactly fifteen minutes. Yet Qing Xuanling had only managed five—less than half.
Xuan Dan assumed it was because she couldn't withstand the pain.
Qing Xuanling shook her head. "It's not that I couldn't endure fifteen minutes—I consumed the Demon Blood Pill's effects in five! The Clear Flame inside me helped me absorb it three times faster!"
She had noticed more than that. Though uncertain, she felt her body's interior had been subtly refined by the Clear Flame—especially her blood, which now felt far more vibrant.
This deeply thrilled Qing Xuanling. "Again! Give me another Demon Blood Pill!"
Struggling to rise from the small tub, she headed toward the cauldron. Xuan Dan tried to stop her. Qing Xuanling's condition was visibly dire—and her bloodshot eyes held a disturbing glint of madness.
But Qing Xuanling brushed her hand aside. "This is something I must do. I need strength, Xuan Dan. I won't let this opportunity slip away over a little pain."
Xuan Dan opened her mouth, closed it, and found no words. With a defeated sigh, she handed over another pill. "Please stop when you truly can't go on. I don't want you developing a mental illness. I refuse to deal with all the trouble that would follow!"
"Don't worry—I know my limits~" Qing Xuanling laughed. "I just have a strong feeling... I'm close to a breakthrough!"
Xuan Dan rolled her eyes. Delusion! She shared Qing Xuanling's pre-divine-talent memories—she remembered clearly how it had taken a full year to reach the first layer of Qi Refinement. Now Qing Xuanling claimed she'd achieve body refinement breakthroughs in hours? Calling it a hallucination was the polite way to say she'd gone mad. It was simply impossible.
Qing Xuanling smiled, sensing Xuan Dan's thoughts. 'Let me show you why I am the primary body.'
The alchemy cauldron lid sealed once more. Qing Xuanling was again trapped in that cramped, pitch-black space—but this time, anxiety had vanished. Only excitement remained. She swallowed the pill and signaled Xuan Dan.
Heat flooded the cauldron instantly. The flame from the*Celestial Flower's Pink Fire technique burned far hotter than expected—perfect for this moment.
She took a deep breath and reignited the Clear Flame within her body, spreading it through every internal space.
Inhuman pain—she never thought she'd grow accustomed to it—assaulted her again, nearly wrenching tears from her eyes. But she gritted her teeth, enduring, focusing on every subtle shift within.
Every part of her body was refined by the flame, though effects varied. Bones and muscles saw minimal change. The true beneficiaries were her internal organs and—especially—her blood.
Organs would briefly wither before surging back to vitality via pure, gentle blood energy—ideal for absorption. This energy barely resembled the Demon Blood Pill's documented fierce, unruly nature.
It was only thanks to the clear flame, which refined that violent blood energy, that her internal organs were able to absorb it so easily.
But her blood transformed most dramatically. Unlike organs that merely shrank temporarily, her blood condensed into something purer—though volume inevitably decreased. Fortunately, the Demon Blood Pill excelled at replenishment.
In this synergy, the Demon Blood Pill, Clear Flame, and Abnormal Steel Caterpillar Observation Diary formed a divine trinity: the flame condensed the blood, the diary replenished it, and the pill supplied the energy. Qing Xuanling could feel her strength escalating second by second.
The sensation was so addictive she forgot the pain entirely. Five minutes vanished like breath.
She emerged steaming into the water tub—skin once again cracked and dull. Xuan Dan frowned to speak, but Qing Xuanling swiftly climbed back into the cauldron. Xuan Dan could only sigh worriedly and reignite the pink flame.
The cycle repeated seven more times. Nine pills consumed. Yet Qing Xuanling's appearance worsened: deep gray cracks spiderwebbed across her skin. She looked corpse-like.
"You're really continuing this?!" Xuan Dan blocked her as she neared the cauldron again. "Haven't you seen yourself?! You look like a damn corpse! Do you want to die?! I'm starting to think this technique is a scam!"
Xuan Dan was genuinely terrified. Qing Xuanling's eyes blazed with overwhelming madness—no trace of her usual self remained.
"L-let me... I have to do this!" Qing Xuanling growled, voice hoarse. "I'm... one step away!"
Xuan Dan raised a hand to slap her—but froze. The look Qing Xuanling gave her was feral, intense: the gaze of a beast moments from unleashing boundless ferocity.
Xuan Dan gritted her teeth and stepped back. She felt Qing Xuanling would attack if denied.
Qing Xuanling brushed past without a glance. In her mind there was only: Pill. Cultivate. Nothing else.
'Fine... This is the last pill. She won't be crazy enough to continue without pills. Even if she attacks me later—I refuse to refine this damn pill again!'
Xuan Dan sighed and reignited the flame. She was exhausted too—but Qing Xuanling knew no rest.
Inside the cauldron, Qing Xuanling had already swallowed the pill, unconsciously summoning the Clear Flame within. She'd long entered that special mental state from her return after the ambush: zero distractions, total focus on body refinement. Without it, even her determination couldn't have endured such agony.
She followed the technique precisely: specific breathing rhythms, activating precise major and minor meridians, shifting muscles at critical moments.
The Abnormal Steel Caterpillar Observation Diary was complex—but she'd mastered its steps instantly on the first attempt. That could only be described as talent.
Her talent was what saved her from death. Without a certain mastery of the body cultivation technique, her body wouldn't be able to absorb blood energy quickly enough to heal her organs and replenish her blood, no matter how refined the blood energy was.
Then—something change.
This was her tenth session. Every part of her body had improved—including her delicate brain, baptized by clear flame and blood energy. But her blood transformed most profoundly: thicker, darker, brimming with immense energy.
However, from the seventh session onwards, she'd hit a bottleneck. There was no progress.
Until now.
Crack!
Suddenly, her bone marrow underwent a qualitative change! Improving completely!
From this moment, all her blood would be generated at the level it reached after ten cultivation sessions and ten pills!
Blood surged through her like a baptism—holistically elevating her entire being. It was as if a dam suppressing her body's potential had shattered, flooding her with power.
Most dramatically—her skin. A torrent of blood energy refined it, achieving the technique's first stage: Copper Skin!
Cracked gray skin vanished. Renewed, smooth, luminous white skin emerged—more radiant than before.
Qing Xuanling exhaled heavily, feeling reborn. And she nearly was—she had reached the first layer of body refinement!
Her body had truly undergone rebirth. Physical strength elevated. Senses sharpened. Thoughts accelerated. Her very life essence had taken a step upward.
She signaled Xuan Dan. The lid flew open.
"Xuanling, are you alri—why did you come out so ear—" Xuan Dan's words died as she stared at the transformed Qing Xuanling.
Steam rose gently from Qing Xuanling's flawless skin. She clenched and unclenched her fist, then punched the air.
Bang!
A tiny shockwave echoed.
Qing Xuanling smiled. "See? I told you I was close to a breakthrough!"
Xuan Dan's jaw hung open. "Y-you... you actually reached the first layer of body refinement?!"
She was utterly stunned. She'd dismissed Qing Xuanling's madness-filled eyes as delirium—But that "madness" turned out to be the certainty of achieving the impossible!
Satisfaction warmed Qing Xuanling as she climbed out, laughing lightly. She found black robes embroidered with crimson flowers—a gift from Madam Yechan. 'Her taste truly is excellent.'
She glanced in a mirror, nodding with quiet pride. Her appearance had elevated several tiers post-breakthrough. Stretching, she couldn't help but recall the hellish session.
She would take a good rest before even thinking about doing another cultivation session. She needed to relax after so much pain.
"Ah—right. I still need to do that..." She stroked her chin.
Xuan Dan, watching silently, asked curiously: "What thing?"
"Rename my body cultivation technique. It can't keep that name." Qing Xuanling's eyes sparkled. "Ah—I've got it!"
She turned to Xuan Dan, voice ringing with triumphant clarity:
"Cauldron of the Devouring White Dragon!"